Self-regulatory focus of leaders and follower creativity and performance : the enhancement effect of regulatory fit

Abstract

This study examined the direct relationship between self-regulatory focus of leaders and follower creativity and performance with the mediating effects of leadership behaviors and moderating effect of follower self-regulatory focus on the relationship between leadership and follower creativity and performance (i.e., the regulatory fit hypotheses). Using path analysis and bootstrapping, data from 166 dyads from leaders and followers were collected from various companies. It was found that a leader with promotion focus was positively related to follower creativity but not performance, and related to transformational leadership and transactional leadership. Transactional leadership was found to relate to follower creativity weakly. However, neither the mediating effects of leadership behaviors between the self-regulatory focus of leaders and follower creativity and performance nor the moderating effects of follower self-regulatory focus on leadership behaviors and follower creativity and performance were supported. Additional analyses found that the regulatory nonfit reduced the follower creativity. Managerial implications based on the results were suggested to promote the application of self-regulatory focus of leaders and followers in the work setting.